Sound of melancholia: Musicians battle mental health woes Sunidhi
Musicians are often no stranger to mental health issues — dealing with sudden highs and lows, and being on the road for most part of the year for live concerts. It gets tougher for Bollywood musicians, with the added aspect of playback singing, where film stars often end up getting the public’s affection for a song.
For almost six years, singer Shilpa Rao was “in a shell” as she felt she wasn’t popular, despite some big hits. “People used to tell me, ‘Manmarziyan (Lootera, 2013) aapne gaaya hai? Hume nahi pata tha’. I was terrified of attending red carpets, award functions,” she shares, adding, “Travelling saved me from depression, but for a long time, I felt like I didn’t know what I’m supposed to do. That was not a very happy place to be in.”
After Sushant Singh Rajput’s death, singer Neha Bhasin opened up about her mental health issues. “I’ve felt rejected, unloved, unwanted for almost 14 years of my 18-year career. Most of you still call me ‘underrated’ as if I am a bulletin board with no feelings...,” she wrote on Instagram.
Singer Javed Ali feels that film industry isn’t sensitive to an artiste’s mental health. “A lot of musicians earn on a day-to-day basis. We have no clarity on when this situation (the lockdown) will ease and when these artistes will get to work. It is possible for people to slip into depression in such situations. I feel no one understands mental health issues in our fraternity,” he says.
Singers Shalmali and Sunidhi Chauhan have also urged the industry to be kinder. “Successful or not, all of us are going through something or the other. Everybody has their sorrows,” says Chauhan. Urging people to speak up, Shalmali says, “I don’t think talking about what you are feeling is any sign of weakness.”
If you need support or know someone who does, please reach out to your nearest mental health specialist. Helplines: Aasra: 022-27546669; Sneha India Foundation: +914424640050, Sanjivini: 011-24311918